By Gerri Miller
EAN Staff Writer
A large crowd came to Brookside Memorial in Millbrook Saturday to place 396 wreaths on the graves of service members as part of a ceremony led by American Heritage Girls (AHG) Troop AL0125.
The ceremony was part of Wreaths Across America which took place simultaneously at more than 2,200 locations across the country. Those participating purchased live balsam wreaths for $15 with $5 of that staying with the troops as one of its yearly fundraisers, said AHG Troop Coordinator Susan Waldrop.
Waldrop said the goal was to place a wreath at the headstone of every veteran buried there, spread patriotism and ensure no one is forgotten. Waldrop said this is the third year the Troop has held the ceremony at the Brookside location.
AHG Troop AL0125 is chartered by Millbrook Presbyterian church and there are 41 girls in the organization. It is a national character development organization for girls ages 5 to 18 that embraces Christian values and encourages family involvement. A Trail Life group, the brother organization for area boys, is being started up in Millbrook in January.
Millbrook Presbyterian Church Pastor Brannon Bowman led the prayer. Girls from the troop presented moving speeches.
Service members and AHG members also laid wreaths in honor of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, United States Coast Guard, United States Army, and the United States Merchant Marines.
“We are proud to be Americans living in a free nation made up of many different people, races, and beliefs. We must remember that the freedom we enjoy today has not come without a price. Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout this nation, are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear,” said AHG member Faith Montee. “We can worship as we see fit. We can raise our children to believe as they choose. We can travel from one end of this great nation to the other without question. We are free to vote for whomever we feel should be in government office. We have the right to fail and we have the right to succeed.”
“Our nation stands as a shining beacon of liberty and freedom to the world. We thank those who gave up their lives to keep us free. They shall not be forgotten. They shall be remembered,” Montee continued. “Many of you are veterans of wars and conflicts that America has had to fight to protect the innocent and suffering. This nation has consistently been the first to stand up for the freedom of people around the world. Many of you here today have answered that call and served your country admirably. Thank you for your service.”
AHG member Alivia Windham quoted Ronald Reagan in a moving presentation. “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction,” she said. “We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
Troop members demonstrated how to properly fold an American flag and troop member Mary Claire Woodfin described what each of the 13 folds represented. AHG Ella Fields invited each person present to place a wreath on a veteran’s grave.
“Those who would like to place one on a veteran’s grave, we encourage them to say that veteran’s name aloud. Then take a moment of silence to thank them for their service to our country. It’s a little act that goes a long way toward keeping the memory of our veterans alive,” Fields said.
“And remember, we are not here today to decorate graves. Nor are we here to remember their deaths. We are here to remember their lives. Each wreath is a gift of appreciation from grateful America,” Fields continued.
Millbrook Mayor Al Kelly was scheduled to speak at the event was unable to do so because of the death of his mother.
Wreaths Across America is the non-profit organization best known for placing veterans’ wreaths on the headstones of our nation’s fallen at Arlington National Cemetery. However, the organization, in total, places more than 2.2 million sponsored wreaths nationwide and offers other programs throughout the calendar year.
See More Photos Below:
